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Doctors pushing formula for 8 wk old not gaining weight HELP

I have had a lot of issues breastfeeding with my LO but ultimately I feel like it's a latch issue that isn't or can't be corrected because my LO is not gaining the amount of weight the doctors would like to see and she doesn't have as many dirty diapers as she should so I think she is not latching correctly to get the hindmilk needed for both of those things. The doctors have told me that I need to supplement with formula in order to make her gain weight but I am trying absolutely everything before I go back to work, I have made it 8 weeks and dont want to stop BF now! Any suggestions????

Re: Doctors pushing formula for 8 wk old not gaining weight

She has a TON of wet diapers and they are really really wet which for the past 8 weeks made me think things were okay. She was born 10 lbs even and the lowest recorded weight was 9 lbs 6 oz but maybe more within the first month, so at her one month checkup she was 10 lbs. Now at her 8 week weight check that they have been making me do she is at 10 lbs 6 oz. I know bigger babies are harder to keep up with the demand and I have tried everything it seems like. I pump but don't get much output, I watch her eating to make sure that it is vigorous and she swallows so I know she is getting the milk and then when she got nipple confusion and my nipples got sore and bled, I got a nipple shield which seemed to alleviate all issues and she was on an AMAZING schedule of eating every three hours for 20 minutes on one side and 20 on the other almost perfectly and was content and slept great and now at her appointment they are worried because she should have "gained so much more weight than she has" as the nurse put it. I am trying desperately to hang on to the breastfeeding as long as possible but I don't want her to suffer. ??

Re: Doctors pushing formula for 8 wk old not gaining weight

I don't think she is suffering. But she was BORN at 10lbs? Is that right? And it's a total MYTH that big babies are harder to keep up with demand. Hmmm. Wet diapers but she has only put on 6oz in 8 weeks. That IS puzzling. I am not alarmed though. I always think of big babies like there is more room for error. That isn't very scientific. But when my son was born he weight 8'2. And I know and have know healthy babies that were 5 and 6lbs. So my thinking when he was born and he didn't eat was "Well he's got like a 2.5 lb margin before I really have to worry." So I wonder if it's possible for you to do some weigh ins? Is there a Mommy and me Group you can go to where you can weigh her before and AFTER a feed to see how much she is taking in? Wet diapers means she IS eating....I am not really sure why she would be gaining so slowly. Is she super active?

Re: Doctors pushing formula for 8 wk old not gaining weight

Yes she was 10 lbs at birth. She was 21 inches at birth and is now 22 1/2 inches long so she is growing just not gaining weight? She has been awake a lot more during the day and always has her hands and feet moving around, she is very strong! I feed on demand so if she wants to eat every hour then she eats every hour. When she does poop it is the mustardy seedy poop that it supposed to be a breastmilk poop from what I've read. She is generally a happy baby and doesn't give me much to be concerned about, the doctors are what is making me think things aren't going right.

Thank you so much for the video advice, I just watched them and we are going to work on some of the latch issues that might be happening!!